Family ‘funfair-athon’ to help cancer boy (11)

A brave Burnley schoolboy battling a rare form of cancer was all smiles as his family took on a stomach-churning charity challenge in his honour.

Lewis Taylor (11) is suffering from rhabomysarcoma – a cancer which attacks the muscle and soft tissue and affects fewer than 60 children in the UK each year.

Family and friends of Lewis Taylor take part in a 'funfair-athon' challenge, going on as many rides as possible in an hour.

Despite undergoing a harrowing course of chemotherapy, Lewis came to watch his family and friends take on a nauseating “funfair-athon” at the Mega Value Fun Park in Hargher Street,

The young Clarets fan was there to see his thrill-seeking mum, dad, sisters and other family members tackle as many of the hair-raising rides as possible in one hour.

Seventeen of his relatives braved the mad-cap challenge which saw them jump on white-knuckle rides including the Energy Storm, Speed Buzz and waltzers to raise money for children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent.

Sister Kellie (26) said: “It was Lewis and my dad who came up with the idea. When I spoke to CLIC Sargent they had never heard of anyone doing anything like this before.

Family and friends of Lewis Taylor take part in a 'funfair-athon' challenge by going on as many rides as possible in an hour.

“The rides were all spinning and revolving. We had three ‘casualties’ who were being sick. Everyone was a bit green and queasy

“Lewis was really enjoying watching. He was laughing at everyone.

“He has been amazing right from the beginning and really wanted to do something to help other little boys like him.

“He wants to raise money to help other people going through the same thing as him.”

Gary Taylor and his son Lewis during the 'funfair-athon' challenge.

Fair owner Alan Cowie donated £100 along with Reader’s Scrap Yard and hundreds of pounds more have been flooding in from kind-hearted people in the town.

The family are planning more charity events in the coming months including a charity evening, a bungee ball challenge and an auction of gifts and prizes that have been donated by local businesses.

Lewis is set to undergo a gruelling 10-week course of cancer treatment to try and shrink the tumour that developed in his hand following an innocuous playground fall last summer.

You can donate to the cause at www.justgiving.com/lewis-taylor8 or visit the Lewis Taylor facebook page.